GOP Pressure Play Coming In The Senate (Updated)

The political maneuver will force minority members to either join the majority in rejectingÂ the Democratic governor’s proposed $1.3 billion in cuts to the health care community, or stand with the GOP in fighting Spitzer’s plan.

Several vulnerable senators will likely have to go against their conference’s stand with the governor, including those with districts where hospitals are the center of the community and those vulnerable to a competive re-election effort.

Those senators include Eric AdamsÂ and Kevin Parker, both of Brooklyn,Â whose districts have thousands of unionized health care workers, and upstaters such as Andrea Stewart-Cousins of Yonkers and David Valesky of Syracuse.

The Senate GOP will take note of the votes for potential use against Democrats in next year’s elections.

UPDATE: Some additional thoughts from Liz:

“We are going to ask all 62 members to stand up and be counted on what has become the key battle of this budget: Do they support these cuts or don’t they,” said John McArdle, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, R-Brunswick.

Such a move would be unprecedented, McArdle said. It would also be potentially dangerous.

While these votes could be used in opposition to the Democrats, they could also be turned against the majority by a smart campaign ad maker.

There are things in Spitzer’s budget that are popular with the public- the expansion of Child Health Plus, for example, as well asÂ funding for Alzheimer’s Disease and preventative care.

You can almost hear those ads: Sen. So-and-So chose the healthcare special interestsÂ over his/her constituents..Â

This also could serve as a test run for a veto override – should budget negotiations ever break down that far. The now 33-member Republican conference would need assistance from 10 Democrats to override.

Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, D-Queens, told the AP his members won’t help Bruno when it comes to adding substantial spendingÂ increases to Spitzer’s budget.

“Bruno’s got to know, it’s a different dance,” Smith said. “No one is going to go for that.”Â